Robert Frost was born in San Francisco on March 26th 1874. He was the eldest son of Isabelle Moodie and William Prescott Frost Jr. He came of a New England heritage and grew up in New England. His family was prosperous, but not wealthy. He was a student at Harvard University, but did not graduate due to his lack of interest in college. In 1894 Frost moved to Lawrence, Massachusetts, and was hired to teach at Lawrence High School. He was a teacher there until 1898. During this time he wrote his first poem and met Elinor Miriam White, whom he would later marry.
His first published poem was called “My Butterfly: an Elegy”, and it earned him recognition from The Independent and the New York Tribune. After his success he moved to England and lived there for several years. While living in England he wrote and published several well known poems including “Mending Wall”, “The Road Not Taken”, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”, and many more. He returned to the United States in 1915 and married Elinor in December of that year.
Frost’s writing continued to be successful after his return to the US, with books including New Hampshire, West-Running Brook, and A Further Range being published and becoming best sellers. His work was praised by critics and led to him winning several awards including four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry, an honorary degree from his alma mater Harvard, and he was even invited to read at John F Kennedy’s inauguration in 1961. He was the Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress, (which later became known as the Poet Laureate) from 1958-1959.
Towards the end of his life he was in declining health, and he passed away in his sleep on January 29th 1963; he was 88 years old. He is buried in his hometown of Lawrence, Massachusetts and is remembered as one of the most influential and beloved poets of the 20th century.
What Kind of Poems Did Robert Frost Write?
Robert Frost was known for his simple yet profound poetry that often depicted rural New England life. He wrote many of his great works while living in the United States, including “The Road Not Taken,” “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” and “Mending Wall.” His New Hampshire collection is considered one of the best body of works created by any American poet in the 20th century. An interesting factor of Frost’s poetry is that it often featured rural settings and landscapes, but were filled with abstract themes and philosophical musings. These poems were accessible and appealed to a wide audience.
Frost often wrote about needing to make difficult decisions and the consequences that come from them. One of his most famous works, “The Road Not Taken,” is a meditation on having to make a life-altering decision between two divergent paths without knowing the outcome of either choice. Frost wrote a lengthy introduction to his collection of work, titled A Boy’s Will, which gave insight into his aesthetic and the inspiration behind many of his works.
Though primarily known as a poet, Frost wrote a few pieces of fiction, including several short stories, and also wrote plays and was an avid essayist as well. His work was known for using traditional poetic meter and form while also giving modern touches—”The Road Not Taken” and “Birches,” for example, feature rugged, two-syllable rhymes. He preferred short verses that were packed with meaning and imagery.
What Were Robert Frost’s Major Influences?
Robert Frost read and was influenced by a variety of writers such as Shakespeare, Milton, and Wordsworth. Wordsworth’s poems gave Frost insight into the beauty of nature, and also urged him to write about his personal experiences. Frost’s writing has also drawn comparisons to Emily Dickinson’s works, due to their examination of nature yet hidden profundity. One of Frost’s most foundational works, “Mending Wall,” is often likened to the philosophical works of David Hume due to its contemplation of human nature and its affect on our personal boundaries.
Aside from philosophical influences, Frost was also strongly inspired by nature. Born and raised in rural New England, he witnessed firsthand the beauty of the region and often included its rivers, trees, and mountains in his work. In addition to his New England heritage, Frost drew inspiration from the bible and his own background as the descendant of Scottish, English, and Irish immigrants.
Frost’s poetry reflects his interest in traditional concepts such as community, morality, and religion. He also often incorporated 19th-century Romanticism, with its focus on emotion, mysticism, and nature, into his works. While often his work was allusive, his later works featured more autobiographical elements, and some of his later works wrote more directly on the subject.
What Was the Impact of Robert Frost’s Poetry?
Robert Frost’s poetry had an enormous impact on contemporary literature and art. He was widely respected and praised by both critics and the public. His poems have been dissected and analyzed by academics and read and discussed by generations of readers. Many of his works, most notably “The Road Not Taken,” have become staples of American literature and culture. His influence on modern poetry has been immense, and his work has been referenced in works of popular culture such as television shows and films.
His works were replicated and explored by new generations of poets in the 1960s with the rise of the beatnik movement. The humbleness of Frost’s prose, its compelling stories and the straightforward language drew readers in and resonated with a new generation of writers. His work influenced movements such as the confessional poetry and Beat Generation which descended from him and challenged the conventions of what he had been doing.
Frost’s work has been a source of comfort and inspiration for millions of people throughout the years. His poems are still read and enjoyed today and have entered into popular culture as a symbol of hope and inspiration in times of difficulty. His poems have been used in movies, books, and songs and will undoubtedly continue to inspire future generations of readers and writers.
What Awards Did Robert Frost Receive?
Robert Frost’s work won him four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry, an honorary literary degree from Harvard University, and his appointment as Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress in 1958-1959, (which is now known as the Poet Laureate). He was also awarded a Gold Medal for Poetry from the National Institute of Arts and Letters in 1923 for his collection of works, New Hampshire. Throughout his career, he was also awarded a number of honorary doctoral degrees from institutions such as Yale University, the University of Michigan, and Dartmouth College.
Frost was also invited to read his poetry at the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy in 1961. This event made him an international star and his work gained a wider recognition. He was often invited to various events and lectured on various topics around the world. Frost also became the first poet to receive full-time salary from an institution of higher learning — he was appointed to a teaching position at the University of Michigan in 1921.
His work has inspired many authors and has been a great source of comfort and inspiration for millions of people around the world. It is no surprise that Frost is often cited as one of the greatest and most influential American poets of the 20th century. His work is still being read and enjoyed today, and will no doubt continue to inspire generations of readers and writers in years to come.
What Was Robert Frost’s Legacy?
Robert Frost’s legacy is one that continues to be remembered by poets and readers alike. His work has been featured in numerous anthologies, textbooks, and literary works. “The Road Not Taken” is one of his most popular works and has become a staple of American literature and culture. Frost’s works were often contemplative and deeply philosophical; he had a knack for exploring complex issues with simple language. His poetry was accessible and appealed to a wide audience.
Frost also had a great influence on contemporary literature and art, with his work inspiring and influencing both critics and the public alike. His works have been dissected and examined by academics while his works are still read and enjoyed by the public. The humbleness of Frost’s prose, its compelling stories, and the straightforward language drew readers in and resonated with a new generation of writers.
His work inspired movements such as the confessional poetry and Beat Generation which descended from him and challenged the conventions of what he had been doing. His books were bestsellers, his poetry widely acclaimed and read. He had many famous fans, and his impact was felt through popular culture in the songs, books, and movies of the era and beyond.
Frost’s poetry has brought comfort and inspiration to millions of people around the world and will continue to do so. His work entered into popular culture as a symbol of hope and has stood as an example of what literature could be for generations of readers and writers.
